Carex dolichostachya 'Gold Fountains' is a fine textured evergreen sedge with graceful golden green arching foliage that forms a tidy cascading clump. Especially effective when planted en masse or at the edge of shaded pathways, it provides bright contrast against darker leaved perennials. This low maintenance grasslike plant adds movement, structure, and subtle color in all seasons and is tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
Height & Spread: 12 - 18 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Spring
Light Requirements: Full shade to part sun
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil or moderately dry soils once established
Watering Needs: Low to moderate depending on location
Deer Resistance: Foliage is unpalatable to deer and rabbits
Native Status
Carex dolichostachya is native to parts of East Asia, particularly Japan, where it grows in forested slopes and stream banks. 'Gold Fountains' is a cultivated variety bred for ornamental performance.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Dense clumps offer cover and nesting material for wrens, sparrows, and ground foraging birds in woodland gardens.
Beneficial Insects
- Foliage creates a protected understory habitat for predatory beetles, parasitic wasps, and lacewings that help control pests.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow graceful spreading and overlapping foliage without overcrowding.
Landscape Placement:
- Use as an edging for shady borders, along woodland paths, or cascading over rock walls. Especially effective when grouped in small drifts under deciduous trees or interplanted with low growing ferns and spring ephemerals.
Companion Plants
- Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' - Arching stems and white edged leaves pair well with the flowing form of ‘Gold Fountains’.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silvery heart shaped leaves brighten up shaded spaces while mirroring the sedge’s glow.
- Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' - Yellow spring blooms and semi evergreen foliage weave well among sedge clumps.
- Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) - Coppery fronds add texture and seasonal color that blends with the sedge tones.
- Hosta 'Halcyon' - Blue green heart shaped leaves contrast beautifully with the fine gold foliage of the sedge.